ISLAMABAD: Private sector entities from Pakistan and China have signed 78 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) worth $4.5 billion at the conclusion of the Pak-China Agriculture Investment Conference, marking agriculture as a priority sector under the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC 2.0).
Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain briefed the media on Tuesday, highlighting that the conference would drive bilateral agricultural trade, expand investment in priority sub-sectors, modernize production and processing systems, and facilitate commercial partnerships between private sector entities from both countries.
Collaboration spans 10 priority sub-sectors, including seed production technology, export of heat-treated beef and offal, construction of grain storage facilities, dairy processing machinery, buffalo UHT and camel milk powder, poultry machinery, agro-chemicals and bio-pesticides, fish and shrimp feed technology, value addition in mango pulp and tea, citrus and mango varieties, rice and soya milk processing, and renewable irrigation technologies.
Of the 78 agreements signed, 37 were business-to-business investment agreements, 24 joint ventures, and 14 partnership agreements. The 10 priority sectors identified for collaboration include agri-chemicals and inputs, agri-machinery, food processing and value addition, meat and poultry, dairy products, fruits and vegetables, animal feed, fisheries and aquaculture, cold chain systems, and food-grade packaging and equipment.
To ensure effective implementation, dedicated units are being established within the Ministry of Food Security and at the Pakistan Embassy in Beijing to oversee follow-up on these MoUs. The minister emphasized that enhanced cooperation would boost Pakistan’s agricultural exports, which currently stand at $8 billion, with the government aiming to double the figure over the next three years.
Rana Tanveer Hussain noted that the conference was designed as a targeted, investment-focused platform rather than a general consultative forum. The event emphasized direct private sector engagement, investment matchmaking, and facilitation support aligned with Pakistan’s priorities for agricultural modernization and export-led growth.
A total of 116 Chinese companies and 165 Pakistani firms participated in the conference, enabling structured business-to-business matchmaking. Pakistan showcased investable projects, value chains, and policy reforms, including a protocol for milk product exports already signed with China.
Looking ahead, the ministry plans to finalize more than 25 sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) and export protocols with key partners in 2026. Pakistan is also developing a new seed policy and a national agricultural biotechnology policy to enable the adoption of GMO seeds. Proposals are under consideration to allow the export of pesticides and fertilizers under specific conditions, targeting regional and African markets.
Conference participants were informed that Pakistan produces over 10 million tonnes of fruit and more than 9 million tonnes of vegetables annually, with domestic demand growing at over 5% per year due to a rising population. The agreements signed at the conference are expected to drive significant investment, enhance productivity, and modernize the country’s agriculture sector in line with CPEC 2.0 objectives.
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